Blockout shifting means for rotary duplicating machines



Nov. 30, 1954 c. A. LEVIN 2,695,559

' BLOCKOUT SHIFTING MEANS FOR ROTARY DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed May 26. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. (07"! :4. ,d 497/272 BY W4"? W A z'forzzeys Nov. 30, 1954 c, w 2,695,559

BLOCKOUT SHIF'TING MEANS FOR ROTARY DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIEv E BLOCKOUT SHIFTING MEANS FOR ROTARY DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 C. A. LEVIN NOvQ 30, 1954 I n u I FIE- 7 $55 DOLLARS JOHN 00: I802 CAOTUS s1: season, WISG.

INVENTOR. Car! .72 Aer/i7:

BY W4- -7v orzz'eys 2,695,559 Patented Nov. 3-0, 1954 United States Patent Ofiice BLOCKOUT SHIFTING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Carl A. Levin, Park Ridge, Ill., assignor to Ditto, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of West Virginia Application May 26, 1950, Serial No. 164,405 9 Claims. (Cl. 101-1325) ROTARY In other words, the master sheet is a payroll list. By using a semi-automatic feed tray shifting device, such as that described in my copending application Serial No. 138,841, filed January 16, 1950, now U. S. Patent No. 2,660,431, a very efficient method of preparing pay checks is provided. However, the spacing between the blocks of printed matter on the master sheet must be equal to the Width of the copy sheet, or in the alternative, 21 blockout must be used which requires manual shifting and adjustment.

According to the present invention, I have provided a block-out which is automatically shifted in unison with the feed tray or copy sheet guide. Thus, the blocks of printed matter may be closely spaced to each other which permits more information to be carried on the master sheet.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for connecting the feed tray and the block-out which is readily removable and adjustable.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a magnetic block-out which is self-aligning and which is readily shiftable, in comparison with the block-outs of the prior art.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved block-out which is provided withan upstanding portion for engagement with a laterally shiftable connecting device, but which does not interfere machine.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

With reference now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a duplicating machine embodying a preferred form of my invention;

2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of 1g.

Fig. 3 is a partial section through the drum taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the cooperation between the connecting arm and the block-out;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 3 showing the adjustable and removable mounting of the connecting arm;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken along lines 77 of Figs. 3 and 5 showing the construction of the magnetic marginal portion;

gig. 8 is a section taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 5; an

Fig. 9 is a view tion thereon.

With reference now to Figs. 1 and 2, the duplicating machine comprises a suitable frame 10 in which is rotatably mounted a drum 11. The duplicating machine of one of the copy sheets after duplicaalso includes a feed table 12, a pressure roll 13, feeding and moistening rolls 14, and a moistener 1S. or the foregoing parts are standard in duplicating machines of this wet process type.

The drum includes the usual grippers 16 by means of which a master sheet M may be mounted on the drum. The drum is of the so-called magnetic block-out type, and as such is provided with a slot 17 disposed just tor- Magnets 18 are suitably mounted within the interior of the drum, and pole pieces 19 extend outwardly from the drum and through suitable apertures in the bottom wall 20 of the slot.

The block-out is indicated generally by the reference numeral 21 and is provided with a magnetic marginal portion 22 which is adapted to fit into the slot 17 and engage the bottom wall 20. The block-out is held in position by the magnetic attraction afiorded by the magnets and the pole pieces, and this arrangement permits easy removal and insertion of a block-out.

'lhe block-out includes a blocking portion 23 which is made of flexible stainless steel sheetof a thickness or approximately .002 inch. The blocking portion may be provided with a. slot 24 which is of a width which corresponds to the width of the blocks 29 of typed material which appears on the master sheet M. Thus, the block-out can be shifted laterally to expose one block after another so that each block of typed material can be duplicated onto successive copy sheets.

The copy sheets are stacked. in a feed tray 25'. Al-

though the feed tray is shown as having flange portions 36 to engage both sides of the stack, it may constitute just a single side guide in certain situations. The feed tray is slidably or shiftably mounted in slots 26 in the feed table 12, and the feed tray may be shifted, by depressing the operating lever 27, in a step by step manner by a suitable mechanism which is shownand described in the aforesaid copending application. Sheet advancing means in the form of intermittently operating rollers 28, the construction and operation or which are described in said copending application, are provided for advancing the top copy sheet of the stack disposed in the feed tray into operative engagement with the drum.

Means are provided to connect the feed tray with the block-out so that as the feed tray is shifted through a distance corresponding to the spacing between the blocks 29, the block-out will be shifted accordingly so as to expose the next succeeding block 29 on the master sheet. This means comprises a connecting member 30 which is removably mounted on the feed tray at its rear end, and which engages at its front end a yoke portion 31 of the block-out.

The connecting member preferably comprises a strip of steel which is provided with a reinforcing flange 37 and which at its lower front end is further reinforced by a plate 38 which is welded or otherwise secured to the side surface of the connecting member 30. The connecting member is rigidly mounted on a block 32 by means of a washer 33 and a screw 34. A clip 35, suitably secured to the top surface of the block, extends downwardly over one side and is adapted to engage the right flange 36 of the feed tray as shown in Fig. 6. The clip is preferably of substantial length so as to provide a good frictional grip between the block and the flange which will serve to prevent wobbling of the connecting member 30.

The yoke portion 31 is in the form stainless steel of substantially .005 is bent to provide a base portion 40 The base portion may be welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the flexible sheet 23 so that the legs 41 will extend away from the drum. The legs are so shaped as to form an outwardly converging slot 42 which of a sheet of spring inch. The sheet and two legs 41.

drum rotates in the counterclockwise direction out of its home position as shown in Fig. 2, the block-out will cam itself into the proper position due to the converging edges of the slot. The lower edge of the connecting member is of 'arcuate 'shape' so that it will lie closely against the drum surface, as shown in Fig. 2.

The magnetic marginal portion 22, as shown in Fig. 7, includes clip 44 of magnetic material, such as iron, which. is folded .so .as ,to engage the .edge. of the iflexible stainless steel sheet 23.. The stainless. steel is preferably a non-magneticstainless steel .and it will be observed that it extends around the underside of the iron clip so as to space the iron clip .44 from the pole piece 19. Thus, anairgap .isprovidedwhich reduces the magnetic force toanextent whereby the block-out may be readily shifted in the slot 17... It. has .been found that .where such. an air gapis not. provided, that the block-out cannot readily be shifted by means. of the .arrangement herein shown, .or in. the alternative, .the block-out will tend to buckle or tear.

.The block. 32 is preferably of substantial mass so as to serveas .a counterbalance =.in. .tending to maintainthe connecting. member. 30in its. upright position. Thus, the torque or forcewhich is appliedto the clip in a direction parallel. to thesurface of the.flange is somewhat reduced. This partially counterbalanced construction reduces the comparatively heavy friction grip which would otherwise .be required to avoid sliding or..rocl ing movement of the clip on..the..flange. Furthermore, the

comparatively light. frictional grip permits the. connecting.

member .as a whole. to .be readily removed when line printing is not. desired.

.1 claim:

l. Shiftable block-out means .for. a duplicating machine having a.drurn, a.pressure.roll.for cooperation therewith, meansfor stopping the. .drum in. a home position, a feed .table,.and feedtray means shiftably mountedon. said feed table formovement parallel to the axis of said drum and including a longitudinally oriented upstanding flange, said drum embodying. means for re-. ceiving at. its periphery an. axially shiftable magnetic block-out, comprisingthe .combination .of a magnetic block-ooh; a block adapted to.be .disposed adjacent to said flange. andremor ably secured thereto and supported thereby, an arm mounted on said block in a cantilevered manner. and extending upwardly towardand engaging said block-out when. said drum. is in home position, said.

block being of. substantial .mass soas to counterbalance saidarm to maintain the same .in its upright position without the use of ainterrnediately disposed cross bar.

2. Shiftableblocldout. meansas claimed in claim. 1 in which said. armis in the form of a.strip disposed in a vertical plane and is provided with a reinforcing flangeextending into proximity to said blockand a reinforcing platesecured tothe surface ofrsaid. arm at. its lower end. and extending .upwardlybeyond the lowermost extremity .of said. flange. wherebysaid. arm is reinforced against flexing inr.a..lateral direction 3. Shiftable block-out means as claimed. in. claim. 1 in which said .block-outis.tprovideduwith a projecting portion which .eXtends outwardly awayfrom the. surface of said drum .and is :engagedby .the .upper end of said arm, saidprojecting portion being resilient so that it may pass by said pressure .roll .as saiddrum rotates.

4. Shiftable block-out means assclaimed in claim 3.

in which said projecting portion is in the .form of a yoke having outwardly converging legs, ,said legs defining .a slot in which said upper end of said arm is received as said drum rotates into home position, whereby said block-out may cam itself into a predetermined lateral relationship with-said arm as said drum rotates away from home position.

5. Shiftable block-out means for use in a duplicating machine in which the drum is provided with an axially oriented slot 'in its periphery and with magnetic means for maintaining an axially shiftable magnetic block-out in said slot and for permitting transverse movement of said block-out in said slot comprising, in combination, said magnetic block-out and actuating means therefor to shift the same transversely, including a projecting portion which'extends outwardly away from the surface of said drum when said magnetic block-out is niounted in said slot, and said actuating means comprising an arm, a block secured to one end of said arm, and a. clip/for engaging .the upper edge of the flange of a transversely shiftable side guide, said block and said clip cooperating to hold said arm cantilevered in an upright operative position in whichthe 0pposite. end of said. arm will engage said projecting portion of said block-out. whereby transverse movement. of said side guide .Will be transmitted bysaid actuating .rneans to .saidblock-out to cause the same to shift transversely in .said slot..

6. Shiftableblock-out. means as claimed in claim 5 in which said magneticblock-out includes an elongate member of magnetiematerial for insertion into said slot,- and..wh1ch. includes non-magnetic spacing means disposed betweensaid magnetic means and saidelongatemember for maintaining said elongate member out of direct contact with said magnetic means tofacilitate the lateral movement thereof.

7. .Shiftableblock-out means as claimed inclaim 6 in which said block-out includes a flexible block-out portion of non-magnetic material secured to said elongate member.

8. Shiftable block-out means. as claimed in claim 7 in which said flexible block-out portion is wrapped around the edge of said elongate member. to constitute said spacing means.

9. A connecting memberfor connecting the feed tray and the block-out of a..duplicating machine comprising a block, a friction clip secured to said block and having a portion overhanging .one side surface thereof, whereby said block can be frictionally secured to the up standing .flange of a feed 'tray, and an extending arm secured to said block and disposedin aplane-which is said block being ofsubstantial mass soas to counterbalance said arm with reparallel to said side surface,

spect to .the center of rotationprovided by thepoint of engagement ofthe .forwardedgeof said clip and saidupstanding flange.

ReferencesCited in the1:file ofthispatenb UNITED STATES 'I'PATENTS Number. Name 1 Date r 2,220,244 Jagger Nov. 5,21940 2,220,265 Morrison Nov. .5, .1940

2,231,291 Morrison' Febxll, 1941 r 2,401,020 Roberts May28, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date- 56l,027 Great Britain; .May.2, 1944 saidmagnetic block-out. 

